Monday, February 1, 2010

Train vehicle collission

Fort Frances OPP have responded to an accident at the CN Rail Crossing in Dawson Township.

Around 9:30 this morning a southbound van collided with a slow moving westbound train.

The van's four occupants have been sent to Rainy River Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The train crew was not injured in the collision.

OPP and CN Rail officials continue to investigate the cause of the collision.

Hospital Budgets

Administration at Lake of the Woods District Hospital would like to hear from the provincial government sooner rather than later what it can expect in terms of funding this year.

Marc Belcaen is the CEO of the hospital and says they usually know before the end of January what kind of operating grants they will be getting.

Belcaen says they have been asked to submit operating budgets based on a zero,one or two percent funding increase.

He adds that they have been lobbying for a two percent increase in order to maintain their current level of service.

2010 OPP Business Plan

Crime Prevention and public safety are two of the goals found in the OPP's 2010 business plan.

Inspector Dave Lucas presented the draft plan to the police services board on Thursday.

Lucas says they also want to speak to residents about being safer on the ice and roadways.

The final version of the business plan is expected to be finished by the end of February.

Hospital Union supports forestry

The provincial government is being urged to form a crown corporation toopen pulp and paper mills that have been shut down in northern Ontarioand operate them.

The suggestions comes from the union representing hospital workersin Ontario.

Michael Hurley is president of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unionsand says its a practical solution to a very bleak situation in this region.

Hurley says the Ontario government could not only own and operate the mills, but encourage Ontario residents to purchase Ontario paper products.

Cattle Markets

An official with the Ministry of Agriculture says a new abattoir to open next week in Emo will put the district's cattle producers in a good position to help sell their products to local consumers.

Barry Potter a livestock specialist says by building a brand, local producers can actually take advantage of a local market that's somewhat distant from others in the country.

Potter says the Ministry has established a number of programs that can help cattle farmers establish those brands.

OPP Snowmachine Rules

The OPP is pinching a number of snowmobile enthusiasts for not having proper registration, trail permits, and valid drivers licences.

O-P-P laid seven charges during a recent snowmobile patrol.

Constable Anne McCoy says they want to ensure sledders are following the rules.

During last Thursday patrol, three machines were towed off the trails after police found operators driving without a valid license.

OPP Recruitment

The officer responsible for recruiting in northwestern Ontario for the Ontario Provincial Police says the face of new recruits is changing.

Sergeant Darryl Wilson and says those considering a career in policing are coming from an older age group.

Wilson says a recent graduating class included an individual who was 48-years old.

Snowmobile Fatal Fort Frances OPP

A post-mortem was conducted yesterday on a 33 year old Fort Frances man killed in a snowmobile accident.

Thursday night around 8:30, two snowmobiles ran into each other on a trail on the Couchiching First Nation just east of Fort Frances.

The driver of one of the sleds, Aaron Hyatt was killed, while the passenger on his snowmobile and the driver of the other were taken to hospitalfor treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Treaty Three Police along with the OPP and Fort Frances Fire and Ambulence personnel were called out.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

CIP Fund Kenora

The City of Kenora is expected to continue its Community Improvement Project Fund for at least one more year.

One hundred thousand dollars is expected to be set aside as an incentive for businesses and building owners in downtown Kenora to fix up theirproperty.

The initiative was launched last year as part of the downtown revitalization project, and so far about 76 thousand dollars has been expended on building renewal projects.

A total of 250 thousand dollars was initially set aside for Community Improvement Projects.

Atikokan Fire

An Atikokan landmark has been destroyed by fire.

The blaze at the old Moose Hall was reported early Monday morning and Crews spent nearly 2-days attempting to extinguish the flames.

Major Dennis Brown says its a sad day for the community.

The Ontario Fire Marshall's Office is investigating the cause.

The building was vacant and no one was injured.

Heritage Fire Hall

Kenora's Heritage Committee says its willing to work with the city on a request for proposal on the old Fire Hall on Second Street South.

The Property and Planning Committee has been given the task offinding a prospective buyer for the heritage building.

The first order of business is to declare the fire hall surplus to the city's needs once the new fire hall on Barsky's Hill hasbeen been constructed.

The Heritage Committee says it would like to sit on any committee set up to decide the fate of the fire hall.

The fire hall was designated as a heritage building in theCity of Kenora last year.